Robert Kritzman focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital start-ups, corporate governance, corporate investigations, cross-border transactions, bank financings, lease financing transactions, debt restructurings and work-outs, mezzanine debt transactions and ship sale, construction and finance transactions. His practice includes various regulatory issues and commercial transactions with an emphasis on the shipping/maritime industry including:
Shipbuilding contracts
Secured vessel financings
Vessel lease transactions
Jones Act and Passenger Vessel Services Act compliant financing and time charter transactions
Maritime bankruptcies and restructurings
Environmental and safety compliance
Prior to joining Clyde & Co, Robert spent 17 years with Norwegian Cruise Line, serving first as Executive Vice President and General Counsel, and later as Managing Director, NCL America
Admissions
Florida
US District Court for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida
Education
J.D., University of Florida College of Law
B.A., University of Florida
Memberships
Member, American Bar Association, International Section
Member, The Florida Bar; Corporation, Banking & Business Law Section and International Section
Vice Chairman, North West Cruise Ship Association, 2003 – 2007
Board Member, International Council of Cruise Lines, 1990 – 2007
Board Member, Bishop Museum, 2003 – 2007
Board Member, Blood Bank of Hawaii, 2003 – 2007
Board Member, Hawaii Business Roundtable, 2004 – 2007
Board Member, University of Hawaii School of Travel Industry Management, 2004 – 200
Expérience
Negotiated and advised the owners of Oak Mountain Industries, Inc., Bisco Refractories, Inc, and Glasrock Products, Inc in the sale of their businesses to Industry Services Co., Inc, a private equity portfolio company. The seller entities are based in Ontario, Canada; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Birmingham, Alabama. Deal closed in late 2021.
Represented Ship Management Company and its owners in the sale of the business to a large port development, owner, and port operations entity. Transaction closed in early 2022.
Represented cruise client in the negotiation of a ship construction agreement and related financing closing in 2020.
Represented bank in superyacht construction loan and take out financing. Transaction closed in 2021.
Structured time charter arrangement to allow foreign cruise company to obtain economic benefit of US flag cruise vessel and managed Maritime Administration approval process of arrangement. Transaction closed in 2020 and ship delivered in 2022.
Structured capital raise and profits interests plan for logistics company.
Internal investigation and voluntary disclosure of maritime environmental violations resulting on non-prosecution in 2020.
Presentations
"EHS Challenges for Cruise Ships," 2019 Florida Environmental Health & Safety Roundtable, November 2019
"Sun, Sand & Success – Legal Compliance for Florida Businesses," October 2016
Publications
"Cruise Industry Opportunities – Land and Sea," Hospitalitas Newsletter, April 2019
“Analysis of US Court’s Decision on Cruises to Havana,” Seatrade Cruise News, May 29, 2022
“Is A U.S. Court A Good Place To Be? Robert Kritzman reviews Genting Hong Kong and Crystal Cruises Path to Liquidation,” Seatrade Cruise Review, March 2022 Quarterly
